Looking to find some tankmates for my 3.5" Firemouth

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swifty

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 13, 2013
268
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California
I have a 38g tank that for under a year or so was housing a GT/firemouth/school of black skirts. In the past week, the tetra school has been reduced from 8 to 3. I initially planned on removing the tetras, but noticed just how aggressive the GT is towards the FM during feeding time. I seen the GT zoom across the tank and charge into the FM's side with his mouth open, and removed a couple scales. It was then I decided he had to go.

Now, I'm faced with a near empty canvas. There is the 3.5" firemouth, 3 black skirt tetras remain, and a 4" bristlenose pleco that keeps the glass, driftwood, and decor spotless. The FM was near half his size but never cowered in a corner or backed off, so I'm under the impression he can hang with other cichlids, just not as aggressive as a GT.

I'm looking to get another cichlid similar or smaller to increase the chances of success. So far my ideas:

-1x 2-3" Jack dempsey
-1x 2-3" male con
-2x 2-3" female convicts

I did a quick search here and found lots of older threads with success keeping JD/Cons with firemouths but I'm looking for some up-to-date ideas and opinions. Not into the whole firemouth pair idea as I don't want to try and find a female since they're so hard to sex. I'll probably increase the tetra school or add some different ones as well, but as of now it looks pretty damn bare with the FM sticking to his cave and no more giant GT roaming about.
 
I would definitely try a blue acara, they're like mini GT's in looks, but reach a similar size as firemouths and are a lot more mellow.

Id avoid cons and JD's in that tank, they'd already easily overpower a Firemouth, especially in a 38gal.

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at that size any small CA cichlid would do. a lot of the species only get super aggressive as they hit the 6"+ mark so a lot of mash ups work really well when the fish are young.

stick with similar temprement fish if youre looking for the long run, Convict, JD, Blue Acara. I`ve kept surprizingly mellow GT`s in the past too. BP`s are another good choice. they seem to only reall have trouble with eachother
 
Rafini said:
at that size any small CA cichlid would do. a lot of the species only get super aggressive as they hit the 6"+ mark so a lot of mash ups work really well when the fish are young.

stick with similar temprement fish if youre looking for the long run, Convict, JD, Blue Acara. I`ve kept surprizingly mellow GT`s in the past too. BP`s are another good choice. they seem to only reall have trouble with eachother
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I had tried a blue acara before, but it was in a smaller tank, and the poor acara was part of a batch of ich-ridden fish from my LFS. Guess I could try and find more, although the JD/Con would be easier as I could get them anywhere. I rarely see blue acaras near me.

I'm definitely going to add 6-9 more tetras. As funny as it is, the firemouth has been hiding and lost all his color since I removed the GT. I was thinking the 2 females so he wouldn't bully 1 too much, but a single con or JD is sounding pretty good.

Any other opinions/thoughts?
 
I was looking into severums as well, seen a few people mention success on older threads. How are they with firemouths? Do they get too aggressive?
 
swifty said:
I was looking into severums as well, seen a few people mention success on older threads. How are they with firemouths? Do they get too aggressive?
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A 38 gallon is really only bug enough to house a Firemouth and maybe a con or something. Nothing that gets over 5-6 inches. A sev would outgrow the tank, in a larger setup it would work though

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Con and blue acara seem to keep coming up. I'll see if one of my LFS has them in the size I'm looking for; thanks everyone.
 
Just got rid of my acara. He didn't get along with anyone. Always started fights with my salvini and nics. Salvini took a chunk out of his head so had to rehome him.

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Rainbows or any of the cryptoheros species should be fine.
 
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